What a fantastic day in Ha Noi today. We are beginning to fall in love with the place. Awake early this morning after sleeping and resting most of the day yesterday getting over our train trip from Sa Pa. Went to breakfast here at the guesthouse and had my usual Pho soup and rick his usual eggs for breakfast. Sat on the step outside of the guesthouse and watched Ha Noi come to life as it does every morning and continues on until very late at night.
We hired a Cyclo to take us around to a couple of temples and it was awesome, felt sorry for the guy riding it carrying two fat porkers, his legs must have really ached. He was so funny and took us to everything he thought we might want to see. Riding in a Cyclo through the mayhem of the traffic here was certainly the way to go and gives you a chance to see things you otherwise wouldn't even notice. We went to a temple but had to leave the Gompa because we only had long shorts on and you must keep your legs and shoulders fully covered, I should have remembered that but duh not today. He also took us to Hoa Lo Prison (otherwise known as the Hanoi Hilton- no longer a prison now) and opened to tourist, pretty gruesome place. War really is the evil of the world, shame the governments of the world don't take head of history and the devestation war creates not only on people but the world as a whole.
Sightseeing over and it was back to hotel for a rest and then off to lunch at Gecko again! Great café with great meals. Rick bought himself some cheap (of course) t shirts which he needed as we didn't bring many clothes with us. A nanny nap this arvo and then off to walk the streets in the evening when the place really comes alive with traffic and shopping. I finally managed to get myself a couple of pairs of hippy pants ($4 each) and Rick a pair of thongs. If I was in charge of the wallet I would have bought shit loads more and shopped till I dropped. Everything is so cheap here. Off to Gecko again for dinner, pizza for dinner for a change and it was the best pizza I have had in a long time. Back to our hotel to sort out our stuff to pack for Ha Long Bay tomorrow. No blog until Friday night till we get back to Ha Noi from our cruise. 1 more day left in Ha Noi after our cruise then we start heading south to Nimh Binh, Hue and Hoi An. Will be sad to leave Ha Noi.
Take care everyone and check out these photos.
Hanoi guesthouse - very friendly staff
Us on the cyclo - poor bloke riding us around
Temple
Rick decided to swap places with our guide - really looks the part.
Temple
Rick and our Cyclo driver. Rick paid him extra to have a beer after carrying us around for 2 hours
Rick again
Hao Lo Prison
Ricks bloody funny with the driver! Glad you are having a great time...rest well :) will write soon, bloody busy here still
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